Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi has defended Marc Márquez in the debate over the MotoGP Qatar GP, saying the reigning champion has not refused to race at the Losail International Circuit but has asked organisers for safety guarantees. Tardozzi spoke in an interview with Sky Sport MotoGP.

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The 2026 MotoGP season is heading toward its climax, and the spotlight is on the controversial trip to Qatar, scheduled for November 6-8. The race has teetered on the brink of cancellation due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, where conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran cast a shadow over major sporting events. The uncertainty has rattled the paddock, challenging riders, teams, and organisers alike.

In recent weeks, riders privately voiced strong opposition to travelling to Qatar, with reports indicating that nearly three-quarters of the grid harbour serious reservations. This prompted a crucial meeting at Phillip Island during the Australian GP, where riders confronted MotoGP management. They demanded robust safety assurances and contingency plans before agreeing to race in Losail.

Tardozzi defends Márquez

Attention has fixated on nine-time world champion Marc Márquez, the reigning MotoGP titleholder and arguably the sport’s most influential figure. The Cervera rider has been notably vocal, yet measured. Tardozzi defended Márquez’s stance and criticised the silence of other riders who privately express harsher opinions but withhold them in official discussions.

Tardozzi revealed that Márquez has not refused to race in Qatar outright. Instead, “he has simply asked for guarantees from the organisers regarding safety protocols, evacuation plans, and conditions that ensure the race can be conducted without risk.” Tardozzi emphasised the contrast: “Many riders have said worse things than Marc in private, but when they face the organisation, they keep quiet. That frustrates me. Marc is the only one with enough courage to speak up and try to mediate.”

When asked about his tone, Tardozzi stressed his frustration with the unfair blame placed solely on Márquez. “It’s wrong to accuse him of not wanting to go. Marc asked for a security plan — nothing more, nothing less. Others have said they wouldn’t go, but they never repeated it in front of the organisation.”

Regarding Márquez’s somewhat ambiguous comments earlier in the week, Tardozzi acknowledged the complexity: “Of course, there are reasons to think it might be better not to go. But if the organisers provide solid safety assurances and evacuation plans, then we will race.”

Teams hold the contracts with organisers

Uccio Salucci, VR46’s team principal, reinforced this pragmatic approach. He stated that while riders, mechanics, and staff have personal agency, the final decision to attend rests with teams and manufacturers, who hold contracts with race organisers.

Tardozzi echoed this, noting: “Riders are employees of the teams, who maintain the contractual relationship with the organisers. Ultimately, the organisation must consult with the teams when making decisions.”

The episode unfolds amid wider disruptions in global motorsport, with the 2027 Dakar Rally already relocating from Saudi Arabia due to regional instability, and Formula 1 maintaining its Qatar and Abu Dhabi races despite similar concerns. The MotoGP community’s demand for clarity and safety ahead of Qatar underscores the delicate balance between sporting ambition and geopolitical realities.

As the paddock awaits the final security guarantees, Márquez’s insistence on transparency and safety stands out as a defining moment of leadership and responsibility in a season fraught with challenges.